I also use Premiere 6.5. I use the cheap ($50) version of Ulead's DVD authoring product called Movie Factory 5 (I just got 5 after having 3 for years.... same basic product as 3 but easier to use and much more stable). Movie Factory has the same encoding engine as the higher end products it just has less of the flair.

I export my AVI (DV25 file) as a movie and import it into Movie Factory. I can set the compression/encoding data rate to anything I want, any audio rate I want, add chapters, add menu pages, etc. Ulead will tell you when you are exceeding the capacity of the DVD (there is a bar running along the bottom) and then you just back off on the data rate. It's a breeze to use, really. Also, the forum for MF is well supported by folks who really know the product.

The result is impressive. Clean DV in makes for a very clean DVD-R. My clients love it and some have had others make DVD's they were not happy with.

Now, you can export Mpeg2 from within Premiere 6.5 using the MainConcept plug-in that comes with it. I have done that to make reduced size, yet broadcast quality files to send via the internet. Again, you can set the encoding compression to anything you want.... up to 9mb/s I think. I have a friend who does his wedding videos that way. I just prefer to let Ulead MF do the conversion and make the final DVD, as well.

BTW: I tried Sonic early on and never liked the end result, for what it's worth.

Now, I will give you a tip but you must promise not to tell anyone else. I have found the easiest way to make an "authored" DVD, especially from a tape master, is to use a set-top DVD recorder. I have a Samsung I paid $99 for, new. It has DV in along with everything else. I use it to make my Mpeg2 compression onto a DVD-RW at either the 1 hour (if it will fit) or the 2 hour data rate. I then take that to my computer and import the raw Mpeg2 file into Movie Factory 5 (you must use 5 to make this work, the early versions were error prone). Then I add my chapters, my menus, my music openings and then I tell MF5 to remultiplex to a DVD-R. It will not re-encode the Mpeg2 so there is no loss of quality. What you got from the initial recording is identical but with the added fancy stuff to impress your family and friends.

George

PS: I have no connection to Ulead.

WOW!!! George.I think I just stuck GOLD here...
 

It sounds like you've definitely "been there and done that"! as I need mentoring,advice and know-how.

First of all thanks SO much for taking the time to give me great hope and cause for optimism going forward.I was scratching my aging head just trying to figure out how I was going to come up with an MPEG 2 file when trying to export the timeline from Premiere 6.5.All I can get (the only option I can see) is MPEG 4 encoding which is hightly undesirable.Maybe my Premiere set-up/software is incomplete or missing something! BTW,I don't have the Main Concepts encoder/program as a option right now either as a stand alone application or built-in/bundled with AP 6.5.

Did you buy Media Studio 5 direct from Ulead or another source for $50?That sounds pretty reasonable to me at that price for what it does according to your description.I downloaded their 30 day trial version but haven't installed it yet.

I know nothing about "set-top" dvd recorders but am eager to learn.Your tip definitely intrigues me even though I just had a brand new internal dvd/cd combo burner installed into my computer just this past weekend.Would you mind please giving me the Samsung model number (or a web/hyperlink) you're using which yields so much satisfaction & results? My goal is to achieve as high a quality as possible with minimal loss.

Are you telling me that you export your whole/finished project as an avi file,bypassing the export timeline feature within the program?Sorry,I didn't quite understand that.Would you care to please elaborate on that statement for a guy whose just starting out?

To be continued...got to get some sleep..

Thanks so much,
Bruce

First off, the product is called Ulead Movie Factory 5. It's the consumer version. You can get it at most retail stores like Best Buy, Staples, CompUSA, etc.

I export from Premiere as a movie. Yellow bar the entire time line and tell Premiere to export as a single AVI DV25 file. DV25 is the file format used for all DV video. It is the native format for Premiere 6.5.

I happen to use the Mainconcept DV25 codec (a commercial plug-in for around $50) for better quality but just going down one time with the internal Microsoft DV25 codec that comes with Premiere 6.5 will work OK.

This new "standalone" movie file is what I import into Movie Factory 5. You said you have the trial version so give it a try.

George what model Samsung DVD recorder are using?
 

Would you please be willing to share this method in detail with me as I like this approach!!!

Thanks,
Bruce

Any current model DVD-R will work. You are just using the recorder as a hardware Mpeg2 converter... much like having a card in your computer.

George,

It sounds like you are essentially using the set top dvd recorder as a mpeg2 encoder. You are first editing your footage on your computer using Premiere or whatever, then exporting it back to tape (your camera), then plugging your camera into your set top dvd recorder via firewire to record/convert the footage to dvd (mpeg2). If I am correct, how do you then author that already burned dvd? And does that set top dvd recorder encode and burn your dv footage to a disc any faster, than say your computer hardware and Ulead software would?

Bob

Apples and oranges, Bob. Two different applications.

I use Premiere 6.5 if I'm creating a video for a client from camera original footage that I (or the client) shot. That being the case I will export the finished project as an AVI and import into Movie Factory to author the DVD-R.

Now I also get in videos (VHS, Hi-8, DV, etc.) that the client wants on a DVD-R. Rather than capture them in to my computer system (sometimes 20 or more 2 hour tapes in a shoe box) I feed them in to my set top DVD-R (I have several). That gets me the hardware (real time) Mpeg2 conversion....raw Mpeg2 data.

Then I walk that finalized DVD-RW (RW so I can keep reusing them) over to one of my computers and tell Movie Factory to import the Mpeg2 data. I add chapter points and menu screens and music, if need be. Then MF authors the project and re-multiplexes the Mpeg2. It does not re-encode it. There is no loss of quality. Whatever the data rate was set for in the set top recorder is the data rate on the DVD-R. No change whatsoever.

As to speed. The set-top records in real time. The time to author and remultiplex takes about an or so hour more. Sometimes I forget to go back to start the next operation... import | create chapters | make menu | burn. I can have several going at once... recording... burning.

Here's the deal. There is no comsumer level set-top recorder out there that makes a DVD-R that will play back in EVERY set-top player out there. They all have issues of compatability, some worse than others. Type in any model you're looking at buying on Google and you'll see for yourself. The Samsung I use makes DVD's that won't play in 70% of the players out there including some models made by Samsung.

After they're authored and re-multiplexed they're perfect!

Look, if you're "in the biz" like I am you cannot keep redoing DVD's for everyone "cause they don't play in my player". If you author them with good software they will never come back. They will always play unless you use too high a data rate. Keep it under 7mbs, use Verbatim DVD-R blanks (not DVD+R) and you should be fine.


(Added 6/14) I forgot to mention two things. First, only use Pioneer burners. They wrote the book on DVD burners and they ARE the industry standard for compatibility. Second, never burn faster than 8X. In fact, if you really want to get anal about it... never burn faster than 4X.

George